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Nightmare Kart

Nightmare Kart Game Cover
97%Game Brain Score
graphics, music
stability, character development
97% User Score Based on 4,318 reviews

Platforms

PCSteam DeckWindowsPlayStation
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Nightmare Kart Game Cover

About

Nightmare Kart is a single player and multiplayer arcade racing game. It was developed by LWMedia and was released on June 5, 2024. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

In "Nightmare Kart," become a beast hunter forced to participate in a dangerous steam-powered vehicle tournament. Race through treacherous gothic tracks, battling enemies and bosses to uncover the tournament's mystery. This free, controller-required game offers local multiplayer, with an option to donate to the developer.

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Nightmare Kart screenshot
Nightmare Kart screenshot
Nightmare Kart screenshot
Nightmare Kart screenshot
Nightmare Kart screenshot
Nightmare Kart screenshot
Nightmare Kart screenshot
Nightmare Kart screenshot
Nightmare Kart screenshot
Nightmare Kart screenshot
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97%
Audience ScoreBased on 4,318 reviews
graphics103 positive mentions
stability25 negative mentions
  • Nightmare Kart is a surprisingly fun and engaging kart racer that combines elements of Bloodborne with classic kart racing mechanics.
  • The game features a charming PS1 aesthetic, a catchy soundtrack, and a variety of unlockable characters and vehicles, making it a nostalgic experience.
  • It's free to play, which adds immense value, and the campaign includes unique boss battles and different game modes that keep the gameplay fresh.
  • The AI can be quite poor, often getting stuck on walls or failing to complete laps, which detracts from the competitive racing experience.
  • Some gameplay mechanics, such as the item pickups and collision detection, can feel janky and lead to frustrating moments during races.
  • The lack of online multiplayer limits the game's replayability, making it less appealing for those looking for a competitive experience with friends.
  • graphics
    299 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are a nostalgic homage to the PS1 era, featuring low-poly models and pixelated textures that evoke a sense of charm and retro appeal. While many players appreciate the unique blend of gothic horror aesthetics with classic kart racing visuals, opinions vary on the execution, with some finding the graphics delightful and others criticizing them as messy or difficult to navigate. Overall, the game's visuals are seen as a significant draw, enhancing the experience for fans of retro gaming and gothic themes.

    • “The graphics are perfectly evocative of the PS1 era, while also being distinct and memorable.”
    • “This visually stunning creation not only draws from the gothic horror atmosphere and intricate world-building of Bloodborne, but it also adds a unique twist by adopting a retro PSX-style aesthetic, turning it into a blend of two beloved gaming genres.”
    • “The graphics are intensely charming and the animations are incredibly expressive, which is surprising with the PS1 era graphics.”
    • “The graphics here are particularly awful, ugly retro pixel crap textures on low poly assets, so bad that it actually stands out as one of the worst looking games on Steam.”
    • “Not a great kart racer to begin with, and the poor graphics don't help.”
    • “The graphics are messy, sloppy, and difficult to read, serving as an example that good PS1-styled graphics are not easy to make.”
  • music
    267 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in this game has received widespread acclaim, with many players praising its upbeat, catchy, and nostalgic qualities reminiscent of classic kart racers like Mario Kart and Crash Team Racing. Composed by Evelyn Lark, the soundtrack is described as a standout feature that enhances the overall experience, despite some comments on its thematic mismatch with the game's darker aesthetic. Overall, the music is considered a major highlight, contributing significantly to the game's charm and enjoyment.

    • “The music is a really whacky upbeat racing track that reminds you of Mario Kart or Crash Team Racing.”
    • “The soundtrack is amazing, by far the best part of this game.”
    • “The music adds so much to this game.”
    • “In particular, the controls are not very good, the music is random and totally out of place, the sound effects are ripped from Mario Kart, and all the modes alternative to racing are just not fun.”
    • “Its dark souls theme does not pair well with its upbeat Mario Kart-like racing music.”
    • “The stages, the music, the characters, the mechanics, the controls, the lore, the ripped off abysmal dogshit Bloodborne aesthetic...everything was garbage from beginning to end.”
  • gameplay
    252 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players enjoying its fun mechanics, unique blend of racing and combat, and nostalgic PS1 aesthetic. However, some have criticized the drifting mechanics as clunky and the overall gameplay as needing polish, particularly in terms of track design and AI difficulty. Despite these issues, the game is praised for its engaging mechanics, variety of characters, and the innovative integration of elements from the Bloodborne universe, making it a standout in the kart racing genre.

    • “The gameplay is really fun, as the animations are satisfying, you have a vast majority of racers and karts to choose from, and I haven't encountered any bugs so far.”
    • “The gameplay is fun and innovative for a kart racer, and the combination of gothic aesthetics with a PS1 style creates a stylish and nostalgic mix.”
    • “The gameplay itself is a wonderful kart battler we've all been wishing for for years.”
    • “Simply put, the drifting mechanic is literally a 45-degree rotation, which isn't smooth, meaning you can't do a normal drift like in other games such as NFS or even Cars 2: TVG.”
    • “The atmosphere of this game is perfect - the graphics, the music, the voice acting - but the driving physics/mechanics aren't suited for the combat, especially in such tight arenas.”
    • “The control mechanics are not up to the standards of modern kart racing games.”
  • story
    113 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its depth and engaging elements, while others find it confusing or underwhelming. Many highlight the nostalgic and thematic ties to Bloodborne, noting that the campaign features a variety of missions and boss fights that enhance the overall experience. However, some players criticize specific missions for being less enjoyable, suggesting that while the story mode is fun and offers replayability, it could benefit from clearer narrative coherence.

    • “Nightmare Kart brings back the classic console vibe and mixes it with a story that will have you wanting more, and playing over and over again.”
    • “In slowly peeling back the layers of our main campaign, the story was something I wanted to chase, each level outdoing the previous in the absolute best way possible.”
    • “The presentation of the world through the story mode is really well done, and I'm sure I'd appreciate it more if I'd actually played Bloodborne before this, but it's a blast either way.”
    • “The developer gambled that other players would be an acceptable substitute for adding storytelling, level design, etc. to the game.”
    • “From reviews, the story is the only thing it has, and I wasn't interested!”
    • “Story in comparison to Bloodborne is watered down and summarized a lot, with most of it skipped over and used as set-ups for the upcoming races and arena modes.”
  • humor
    97 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in this game is widely praised, with many reviewers highlighting its clever parodies and hilarious cutscenes that pay homage to Bloodborne. Players appreciate the comedic elements woven into the gameplay, including funny character designs and absurd scenarios, making it a delightful experience, especially for fans of the original game. Overall, the humor is described as a standout feature that enhances the enjoyment of this chaotic kart racer.

    • “Props to the devs for this hilarious send-up to one of the best games ever.”
    • “A hilarious spoof of a certain Victorian action horror game while also being just a solid kart racer in its own right.”
    • “It's a hilariously faithful racer recreation of Bloodborne that's surely worth playing for anyone interested in either the PSX style or in FromSoftware's games.”
    • “Not funny enough to justify taking up space on my hard drive.”
    • “The humor fell flat and felt forced throughout the game.”
    • “I expected more laughs, but the jokes were stale and unoriginal.”
  • atmosphere
    33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is a captivating blend of gothic horror and retro PS1 aesthetics, drawing strong inspiration from Bloodborne while incorporating whimsical elements typical of kart racing. Players appreciate the detailed environments, haunting visuals, and voice acting that enhance the eerie ambiance, although some note a mismatch between the upbeat soundtrack and the dark themes. Overall, the atmosphere is praised for its immersive quality, effectively combining tension and humor in a unique gaming experience.

    • “The atmosphere of this game is perfect - the graphics, the music, the voice acting - but the driving physics/mechanics aren't suited for the combat, especially in such tight arenas.”
    • “This visually stunning creation not only draws from the gothic horror atmosphere and intricate world-building of Bloodborne, but it also adds a unique twist by adopting a retro PSX-style aesthetic, turning it into a blend of two beloved gaming genres.”
    • “From character designs to the haunting soundtrack, every element evokes the gothic horror atmosphere that made Bloodborne so captivating.”
    • “And the music does not fit the atmosphere and tone at all.”
    • “How do you make a game with such a gritty Victorian gothic atmosphere and give it a bouncy Crash Team Racing-esque soundtrack?!”
    • “The game's atmosphere, characterized by its foreboding landscapes and grotesque adversaries, mirrors the inner battles we all face against sin and temptation.”
  • stability
    31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is characterized by a significant number of bugs and glitches, which can affect gameplay, particularly in achievements and race mechanics. While some players find these issues frustrating, many appreciate the game's charm and the developers' ongoing efforts to address stability concerns. Overall, while the game is fun and runs well on various platforms, it is still considered somewhat buggy, with players hoping for future improvements.

    • “Despite any current bugs it may have, it runs great and is way more than I ever expected from a free game.”
    • “Runs great on Steam Deck.”
    • “I do recommend it because the character is there, and it runs great on Deck despite being unverified; the controls are just a challenge.”
    • “Super fun game overall, a bit buggy sometimes and a little frustrating on some boss encounters but nothing a little cheese won't fix.”
    • “Its a buggy mess; too often you will be crashing into walls due to the fact it's dark and thus hard to see what's up ahead, and also chances of getting stuck and having to reverse.”
    • “Story mode was easy to finish, but the amount of glitches and bugs I encountered on stream, as well as some clunky and questionable mechanics, make me unable to really recommend this.”
  • replayability
    15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, offering a variety of modes, including a campaign with unique boss fights and alternative endings. While some reviews note the absence of multiplayer as a drawback, many players still find enjoyment in local multiplayer and the game's engaging mechanics. As a free title, it provides significant replay value, making it a standout in the indie gaming scene.

    • “For everyone waiting for Bloodborne and Crash Team Racing/Mario Kart on PC, our wish has come true: Nightmare Kart - a masterpiece created with love and care offers fun and challenging gameplay with an almost endless replayability.”
    • “Absolutely perfect game with great replayability.”
    • “This will probably be my game of the year despite the minimal replayability.”
    • “No multiplayer means the replay value is pretty low though you can use remote play to still play, though the added input delay can be felt.”
    • “For a free game, there is a lot of replayability and you can definitely have a lot of fun with it by yourself or with friends as well.”
  • character development
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The character development in the game is praised for its wonderful design and fully voiced cutscenes, which enhance the retro feel and bring the characters to life, particularly the bosses. Players appreciate the charming character concepts and the gothic horror atmosphere, though some express a desire for more content and multiplayer support. Overall, the character designs and voice acting significantly contribute to the game's immersive experience.

    • “Wonderful character design and fully voiced cutscenes included!”
    • “I fell in love with the voice acting as well; it really animates our bosses and boss fights, giving life to the kick-ass character design.”
    • “I really love the character designs and concepts, but I do have complaints, the main one being that I really wish there was multiplayer support outside of the remote play and would really really really love to see this game get more possible content or something in the future.”
    • “The bloodborne DNA is still there in the weapons and level designs and theming of things, but the swapped around character designs are all really charming.”
    • “From character designs to the haunting soundtrack, every element evokes the gothic horror atmosphere that made Bloodborne so captivating.”
  • grinding
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, often requiring significant effort to achieve goals. While some achievements offer variety to alleviate boredom, the overall experience can feel clunky and frustrating, especially when compounded by buggy race mechanics.

    • “Just to clarify, this game is not like those games - it rekindles that fantastic battle racing feeling in a whole new way and it feels good to race, not slow, not tedious, just mmf.”
    • “However, the co-op is tedious and clunky.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “Since some of the parts of the races are buggy, I think they should fix the races before adding new content, since it is tedious to go from first place to hitting an invisible wall and watching everyone pass you.”
  • optimization
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game is well-optimized, with a compact download size and excellent performance, even during remote gameplay. However, the AI could use significant improvement, as it often behaves poorly during races, and the repetitive power-ups and limited game modes detract from replayability.

    • “The bosses are actually hard, the races aren't the easiest which is nice, and the style is nice to look at and is well optimized.”
    • “I can also say that the game is quite optimized.”
    • “The download size of a couple hundred megabytes is nice, and the performance is excellent even over remote gameplay.”
    • “Still, the AI needs improvement; even at higher difficulty levels, the performance of the enemies is lackluster. Sometimes they crash against a wall or a fence and remain stuck there for the entire race. Additionally, the power-ups are repetitive and need more variety in game modes; otherwise, there is no reason to play this game twice.”
    • “It's an important reminder of how much fun you can pack into 290 megabytes, especially now that some AAA titles are bloating to 90 or even a whopping 300 gigabytes of wasted and unoptimized space.”
  • monetization
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization model of Nightmare Kart is praised for being free-to-play with no microtransactions, setting it apart from typical cash grab games. Players appreciate the absence of financial barriers, although there are concerns about potential legal issues affecting future monetization and multiplayer features. Overall, the game is seen as a missed opportunity for Sony in terms of leveraging its IP for promotion.

    • “Nightmare Kart is a racing game in the style of Mario Kart, with a Bloodborne theme. It's free-to-play with no microtransactions.”
    • “Just amazing! I hope to see a multiplayer mode at some point, but I understand if it's a bit too hard to add, especially with the issues of the IP and monetization.”
    • “Not even comparable to any Nintendo's cash grab games.”
    • “Just amazing, hope to see a multiplayer at some point, but understandable if it's a bit too hard to add, especially with the issues of the IP and monetization.”
    • “After all, we all know the only gore-drenched 1750's styled top-hat they have in this race is the legal stranglehold they keep on their precious IP even though they continue to do literally nothing with it outside of throwing their weight around for what is basically free advertising of your product that makes zero money for said advertiser promoting your game for you.”
  • emotional
    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, highlighting its nostalgic visuals that evoke childhood memories and even lead to tears of joy. Despite some gameplay mechanics feeling off, the overall immersion and emotional impact resonate deeply, making players feel like kids again.

    • “This game was so good, it made me cry.”
    • “Great work devs, you made me feel like a kid again :)”
    • “Psx visuals are very well implemented and made me feel incredibly nostalgic.”
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375h Median play time
251h Average play time
2h Main story
5h Completionist
1-500h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Nightmare Kart is a arcade racing game.

Nightmare Kart is available on PC, Steam Deck, Windows and PlayStation.

The main story can be completed in around 2 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 5 hours to finish. On average players spend around 251 hours playing Nightmare Kart.

Nightmare Kart was released on June 5, 2024.

Nightmare Kart was developed by LWMedia.

Nightmare Kart has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its graphics but disliked it for its stability.

Nightmare Kart is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Slipstream, MADNESS: Project Nexus, DUSK, Killer Clowns (2016), A Hat in Time and others.